Concrete-transporting vehicle



Oct. 14, 1930. A. c. AVRIL 1,778,348

CONCRETE TRANSPORT ING VEHICLE Filed Nov. 15, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l I N VEN TOR.

A TTORNEYS 14, 1936. A. c. AVRiL: 1,773,343 CONCRETE TRANSPORTING VEHICLE Filed Nov. 15, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNEKS' Oct. 14', 1930. A. c. AVRIL CONCRETE TRANSPORTING VEHICLE I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 15, 1928 JNVENTOR.

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' ATTORNEYfi Patented Oct. 14. 1930 PATENT OFFICE ARTHUR C. AVRIL, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO CONCRETE-TRAN SPORTING VEHICLE Application filed November 15, 1928. Serial No. 319,630.

My invention relates to concrete transporting vehicles and particularly to such vehicles of the automotive type.

In the art there has been considerable development in the pro-mixing of concrete at centrally located plants and the transporting of the mixed concrete to the job in accordance with its requirements. It is broadly the object of my invention to provide an improved type of vehicle in which pro-mixed concrete may be transported from a mixing plant to the job where it is laid, and agitated or mixed during the transporting, if desired.

Specifically it is the object of my invention to provide an improved type of mixer or stora e receptacle which will be advantageous because of its ease and efficiency of operation, and its simplicity of: structure and durability. It is further my object to so mount the storage receptacle that its weight will be evenly distributed. A still further object is to provide an opening in the mixing and storage receptacle which shall serve both as a charging and discharging opening and a closing member for the opening which, because of its novel shape, serves, during the rotation of the mixer, as an auxiliary mixing device.

The above and other objects to which reference will be made in the ensuing disclosure I accomplish by that certain combination and arrangement of parts of which I have illustrated a preferred embodiment.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of the truck showing parts of the mixing apparatus in section.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the truck also showing parts of the mixing apparatus in section.

Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the truck showing the drum opening in discharging position prior to the opening of the closing member.

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view of the preferred type of mechanism for operating the closing member.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the lines 55 in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a detail side elevation of the discharge hopper and closing member in closed position.

Figure 7 is a sectional the lines 7T in Figure 6.

I have shown a motor truck having a frame 1 which is of standard construction. The transmission of the truck is generally indicated at 2. The driving mechanism for the truck is not shown as it forms no part of my invention. From the transmission I have in dicated the power take-off element 3 which may be of desired construction. The power take-off. which may be controlled by means of a handle such as is indicated at 3", is operatively connected with the shaft 4, which, through a reduction gear unit 5, rotates the sprocket drive 6 which provides the power for rotating the mixing receptacle or drum indicated at 7. For supporting the mixing drum I have shown channel irons 8 extendin laterally across the truck frame.

1. fetal frame pieces 9 support the self-aligning roller bearing pillow blocks 10 which journal a. tubular shaft 10 which extends through the drum and is secured thereto with reinforcing plates 10". The mixing drum is of circular shape with the ends 11. tapering down in very abrupt cones. The shaft 10 extends through the drum. A sprocket l3 fixedly mounted on the shaft 12 is driven by a chain 14 which passes about and is driven from the driving sprocket 6.

Secured to the drum I have shown a discharge hopper 15 having an opening 15 which the hinged lid 16 is adapted to seal. The lid 16 has sides 17 which taper down to the discharge end 18 of the hopper. The lid is hinged to the casing 15 as iindicated at 19.

For opening and closing the lid I have provided a pair of rollers 20 which are mounted on a shaft 21. The lid closing mechanism is best shown in Figure 4. The shaft is slidable on inclined tracks 22. Collars 23 restrain the shaft from endwise movement. Extending parallel with the tracks 22 I have mounted racks 24 which are engaged by pinions 25 mounted on the shaft 21. The shaft may be rotated by means of a hand wheel 26, and as the shaft is rotated the rollers 20 move from view taken along one end of the inclined track to the other bearing against the lid continuously. As the track is inclined when the rollers are at the low side of the track the cover will be opened, and when the rollers are at the high end of the track the cover will be held firmly against the opening in the casing. For securing the cover in closed position I may mount an eyebolt 26 pivoted in a boss 26 on a wall of the hopper. The bolt has a nut 26 by which the bolt may be secured in the slotted boss 26 which is mounted on the hinged cover. With this adjustable clamping bolt the cover may be fastened regardless of the wear of the rollers.

The cover will seal securely against a gasket 27 which is retained in a channel 28 which is mounted at the edge of the opening in the hopper 15. When the cover is closed the sides 17 extend within the drum and act as baffles to agitate the concrete'within the drum when the drum is rotated. I have further provided stationary baflles 29 which mix the concrete while the drum is rotated and also guide the concrete down into the discharge hopper when the mixer is emptied.

I have indicated at 30 a slanting plate which will assist in directing the fiow of concrete from the drum into whatever receptacles are provided to receive it.

The operation of the mixer will be apparent. At the mixing plant the truck will e positioned below the discharge from the concrete mixer and the drum rotated until the opening is at the top of the drum. Then the handle will be turned and the cover opened. After filling the mixer the handle will again be rotated and the cover closed and preferably clamped in closed position. The truck is then operated to the job and, depending on the length of the haul, the drum may be rotated during the transportation a desired amount. Upon arrival at the, job, the drum will be rotated so that the discharge hopper and opening will be at the bottom of the drum. The cover is then opened and the concrete being guided by the bafiles will flow out from the opening.

By mounting the drum laterally across the truck frame I am able to use the one opening and the closure therefor both for charging and discharging, which makes a rugged and inexpensive mechanism. Further, the sides of the cover being extendable within the drum when the cover is closed makes a structure which is exceedingly useful as there is no restriction to the even flow of concrete from the drum when it is in discharging position, and when the cover is closed an auxiliary agitating device is provided. As viewed from .Figure 1, the direction of rotation of the mixer will normally be clockwise and the frame is constructed with ample clearance for the cover opening and closing mechanism which is, of course, carried around with the drum during its rotation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as .new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A concrete transporting vehicle comprising an automotive truck having a concrete receptacle rotatably mounted at the rear of the truck and extending laterally thereacross, said receptacle having a single opening therein with'a closing member therefor, and me? chanical means for opening and closing said closing member, said closing member having projecting portions which extend within said receptacle and act as agitators therein when said closing member is closed.

2. In combination with an automotive truck for transporting same, a rotatable concrete receptacle having baffles therein, a dispensing hopper secured to the walls of said receptacle, said hopper having an opening at the discharge end thereof, and a closing member for closing said opening provided with mechanical means for actuating said closing member, comprising a rack and pinion mounted on and rotatable with said-drum. 3. In combination with an automotive truck for transporting same, a rotatable concrete receptacle having bafiles therein, a dispensing hopper secured to the walls of said receptacle, said hopper having an opening at the discharge end thereof, and a closing member for closing said opening provided with mechanical means for actuating said closing member, said closing member having sides which extend within said receptacle when said closing member is closed thereby providing means for agitating concrete within said receptacle with the rotation of said receptacle.

4. In combination with an automotive truck for transporting same, a rotatable concrete receptacle having bafiles therein, a dispensing hopper secured to the walls of said receptacle, said hopper having an opening at the discharge end thereof, and a closing member for closing said opening provided with mechanical means for actuating said closing member, said closing member having sides which extend within said receptacle when said closing member is closed thereby providing means for agitating concrete within said receptacle with the rotation of said receptacle, said receptacle being of cylindrical shape with tapered ends, and being mounted laterally extending across the rear of said truck in alignment with the back axle thereof.

5. A concrete storage drum comprising a cylindrical member with tapering ends, a single closure member for said drum adapted to act both for charging and discharging, and means for rotating said drum, said closure member comprising agitating means remov- :able from within said drum with the opening of said closure.

6. A concrete storage'drum comprising a i cylindrical member with tapering ends, a single closure member for said drum adapted to act both for charging and discharging, and means for rotating said drum, said closure member comprising agitating means removable from within said drum with the opening of said closure, and said closure being mounted medially in the cylindrical member.

7. In combination with a vehicle for transporting same, a concrete storage receptacle provided with means for rotating same, said receptacle having cylindrical walls with a single opening therein, a cover for closing said opening, and mechanical means for actuating said cover, said means comprising movable members bearing against the outer surface of said cover, and inclined tracks for controlling the movement of said members,

a shaft, and said members mounted on said shaft, and a rack and pinion for controlling the position of said shaft with relation to said inclined track.

8. In combination with a vehicle for transporting same, a concrete storage receptacle provided with means for rotating same, said receptacle having cylindrical Walls with a single opening therein, a cover for closing said opening, and mechanical means for actuating said cover, said means comprising movable members bearing against the outer surface of said cover, and inclined tracks for controlling the movement of said members, a shaft, and said members mounted on said shaft, and a rack and pinion for controlling the position of said shaft with relation to said inclined track, means for securing said cover in closed position independently of said closing means.

9. In combination with a vehicle for transport-ing same, a concrete storage receptacle provided with means for rotating same, said receptacle having cylindrical walls with a single opening therein, a cover for closing said opening, and mechanical means for actuating said cover, said cover having sides which extend within said receptacle when said cover is closed.

10. In combination with an automobile chassis and the frame thereof, a concrete .storage drum of cylindrical shape with conical ends, said drum rotatably mounted at the rear of saidchassis, said drum/having a single opening and extending laterally across said frame, whereby said single opening in said drum will serve for both charging and discharging said drum, a cover for said opening with mechanical means for operating same, said means carried on said drum, and said cover having bafiles secured thereto which extend within said drum when said cover is closed.

11. In combination with an automobile chassis and the frame thereof, a concrete storage drum of cylindrical shape with conical ends, said drum rotatably mounted at the rear of said chassis, said drum having a single opening and extending laterally across said frame, whereby said single opening in said drum will serve for both charging and discharging said drum, a cover for said opening with mechanical means for operatin same, said means carried on said drum, and said mechanical means comprising rollers bearing continuously against the outer surface of said cover.

12. A concrete transporting vehicle comprising an automotive truck having a concrete agitating receptacle rotatably mounted at the rear of the truck and extending laterally thereacross, said receptacle having a single 0 ening therein with a closure member there or, mechanical means for opening and closing said closure member, a fixed discharge chute mounted on said vehicle and said closure member mounted for movement so as to direct the flow of concrete from said drum into said chute.

ARTHUR C. AVRIL. 

